It's a part of every woman's life yet for many, it is something that comes at a cost of education, socialisation, and lifestyle.
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In a bid to bridge the period gap, Mudgee High School students are providing women and girls in developing countries with sanitary products to make that time of the month just that bit more bearable by participating in Days for Girls.
A collection of students dedicate their Thursday and Friday lunchtimes to cutting, sewing, picking, pressing, and ironing pads for women across the world.
With 1.8 billion women of reproductive age, at least 500 million do not have access to any menstruation products or hygiene management, according to The World Bank.
Mudgee High textiles teacher Kaye Bailey told the Mudgee Guardian that it is often the case when ladies less fortunate have that time of the month, they are shunned from the community and left to perch on straw until bleeding ceases.
"When they have their periods they can't go to school or work, and they can't even live in their own homes," Mrs Bailey said.
There's a lot of the taboo in some cultures meaning women sit in a shed at the back of their property or on the edge of town on straw until the bleeding stops.
- Mudgee High School textiles teacher, Kaye Bailey
"It's a cultural belief that you're dirty and bad things will happen if you get into your family home when you're bleeding."
The idea for Mudgee High to participate in Days for Girls first came about mid last year when Kaye was at an event and heard someone discussing the charity.
"The woman had been to New Guinea to teach mothers how to look after and deliver new babies and part of what they do is hand out these Days for Girls kits in the community, and I thought it was really interesting," she said.
"We started researching and found out that it was a really valuable thing to do so I approached Days for Girls and they helped us start the process."
I went to our principal and he said 'go for it, it sounds like a really great thing for Mudgee High to be involved in'.
The idea was introduced to two students who made samples of kits that were sent off to be approved before starting the club this year.
"The idea was introduced to Anneleis [Galvin] and I mid last year, we spent the rest of the year making a few and sending them off to be approved and organising everything," year 10 student Emma Clulow said.
"At the beginning of this year, we started up the club and made it an option for everyone else to come and help out and we've gotten a very large amount of people coming in."
Emma, club captain who confessed to basically "living in the sewing room", said the most important aspect of participating in the charity is enabling Australia's luxury to others.
"I think we're very lucky to be able to access means of managing our menstruation and it's a luxury we complain about, but we are very fortunate," she said.
"It's quite a simple way for us to help out. It's just making a difference."
There are approximately 16 steps involved in making the pad and shield, with each student taking on an individual task, with the pads lasting for three years.
Year 7 student, Miriam Halbisch, told the Mudgee Guardian her favourite part of the charity is keeping women in the education system.
It's really important to have schooling and I couldn't think of life without it, and I know that's what these girls are going through so by making these it means they can go to school and I think that's really important.
- Year 7 student, Miriam Halbisch
"I think it's definitely worth giving up a lunch time for.
"I'm definitely learning sewing skills, but it's also feels really good to help other people in other countries that are having a hard time."
Fellow year 7 student Phoenix Jones agrees that helping others is worth giving up lunchtime for.
"Helping people takes a lot of work but at the end of the day it's a good reward," he said.
Mudgee High School is the only school in New South Wales who participate in Days for Girls, and Miriam encourages others to get involved.
"I am kind of proud and kind of sad that we're the only school doing it, it's just sad that no others are doing it and I'm really hoping that other schools will start to do this," she said.
"Thank you Mrs Bailey, you're awesome."
As for Kaye, not only does making the kits buy days for girls to increase their knowledge and potential for future opportunity, it also is what teaching is all about.
I go down to the teachers room and go 'oh my god this is what teaching is meant to be about'.
- Kaye Bailey
"This is the best thing of my teaching career that I've seen."
For more information about what Days for Girls is about, head to www.daysforgirls.org.
"By being a part of this organisation, you're actually making life better for a whole lot of people," Mrs Bailey said.
Jay-Anna Sleeman
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
